CT Character Research Articles

Unveiling large charge transfer character of PSII in an iron-deficient cyanobacterial membrane: A Stark fluorescence spectroscopy study.

In this work, we applied Stark fluorescence spectroscopy to an iron-stressed cyanobacterial membrane to reveal key insights about the electronic structures and excited state dynamics of the two important pigment-protein complexes, IsiA and PSII, both of which prevail simultaneously within the membrane during iron deficiency and whose fluorescence spectra are highly overlapped and hence often hardly resolved by conventional fluorescence spectroscopy. Thanks to the ability of Stark fluorescence spectroscopy, the fluorescence signatures of the two complexes could be plausibly recognized and disentangled. The systematic analysis of the SF spectra, carried out by employing standard Liptay formalism with a realistic spectral deconvolution protocol, revealed that the IsiA in an intact membrane retains almost identical excited state electronic structures and dynamics as compared to the isolated IsiA we reported in our earlier study. Moreover, the analysis uncovered that the excited state of the PSII subunit of the intact membrane possesses a significantly large CT character. The observed notably large magnitude of the excited state CT character may signify the supplementary role of PSII in regulative energy dissipation during iron deficiency.

Charge‐Transfer Modulation of Emissivity in Polarized Diketopyrrolopyrroles

AbstractStrongly polarized donor‐acceptor‐donor′ diketopyrrolopyrroles, differing in the type of key donor moiety, were designed and synthesized to examine how this affects the non‐radiative decay. Dyes possessing less electron‐rich N‐carbazolyl substituents are characterized by strong yellow emission from a locally excited (LE) state, whereas replacing this donor with more electron‐rich N‐phenothiazinyl substituent changes the relative position of charge‐transfer (CT) and LE states, leading to weaker, reddish‐orange fluorescence. As a result, there is solvent‐dependent charge‐transfer emission shifted to as far as 700 nm. The opening of the intersystem crossing channel to the triplet state possessing CT character is the most likely cause of the fluorescence quantum yield variation in some cases. These results reveal that the fate of molecules in their excited state can be fine‐tuned by very small structural changes.

Multiconfigurational Calculations and Experimental Resonant Raman/SERRS of a Donor-Acceptor Thiadiazole Dye.

The resonant Raman (RR) and resonant SERS spectra of the thiadiazole-based dye dibromobenzo[c]-1,2,5-thiadiazole (DBTD) were studied through multiconfigurational XMS-CASPT2/CASSCF and experimental methods in solution. The results indicate that the S1 excited state of DBTD is described by π → π* with internal CT from the benzene ring to the thiadizole. In resonance conditions at 364 nm, the RR spectrum shows intensifications in modes that describe extensive geometrical changes at both the benzene ring and the thiadiazole region, indicating an internal CT character to the S1. The SERS spectra observed on gold and silver nanoparticles indicate different adsorption geometries, which leads to distinct enhancement patterns on the spectra with varying excitation energy. It evidences the major contribution of the chemical enhancement mechanism on the spectra from a metal → DBTD CT state, as confirmed by the simulated spectra. This theoretical approach proved strong in the prediction of the main features of the observed experimental resonant Raman and SERS spectra indicating a potential for adequate description of the chemical mechanism of SERS.

N1-aryl-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b][1,8]naphthyridin-4(1H)-one as convenient platform to design high photostable and long-lived dyad fluorophore with potential application in live-cell imaging

The design of long-lived and high photostable fluorescent probes with high quantum yields (QYs) is of great significance for biological applications. It favors the monitoring of individual molecular events for extended period of time without side-effect consequences into cell. From a series of N1-aryl-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b][1,8]naphthyridin-4(1H)-ones, we found that their photophysical properties were successfully tuned through the modulation of the intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT), generating the largest lifetimes, highest QYs and photostability for those fluorophores with a high CT character. The ICT was primarily controlled by incorporation of methoxy group at 7-position and secondarily by electron-deficient N1-arene at 1-position of benzo[b] [1,8] naphthyridin-4(1H)-one core. The trifluoromethyl at 2-position seems to strength the ICT because it reduced gap energies and increase dipole moments in their derivatives compared to 2-methyl or -hydrogen analogues. Importantly, from the 7-methoxy derivatives, two high photo-stable (15- to 17-fold more than fluorescein) and long-lived (9.75–14.20 ns) fluorophores with acceptable QYs and HOMO-LUMOs were identified. In particular, the fluorophore 3k showed a low cytotoxicity in J774.1A macrophage, pH insensibility and appropriate lipophilicity, which in combination with their good photophysical properties favored the application of the 7-methoxy dyes for bioimaging, giving blue-fluorescent macrophages in relatively short time. Then, the N1-aryl-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b] [1,8] naphthyridin-4(1H)-one by its molecular extension and planarity emerges as an interesting platform to generate long-lived and highly photostable dyes and, the key point is to favor the strength of the internal ICT mechanism through the incorporation of appropriate donor (D) and acceptor (A) groups along the D-A chain.

High CT-Fluorophore Featuring a Basic Moiety into D–A Chain as a pKa Probe

The determination of acidity represents a significant challenge within fluorometry, and no effective strategy has been developed successfully yet. It is attributed to the fact that acidity tends to be enhanced upon excitation, giving, in general, an overestimation of the ionization constant, pKa. Herein, we developed a strategy for pKa estimation of Brønsted acids in solution through fluorometry by using a convenient pKa probe, N1-aryl-7-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b][1,8]naphthyridin-4(1H)-one. It allowed us to obtain a linear log KSV versus pKa correlation derived from the selective quenching response of the probe by an interaction with different Brønsted acids. The key points of N1-aryl-7-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b][1,8]naphthyridin-4(1H)-one as a pKa probe were (i) the location of a weak basic moiety in the donor-acceptor chain of the fluorophore, which favors a selective quenching of the intramolecular charge-transfer process according to the acidity of acid, and (ii) the high CT character upon excitation that promotes higher quenching magnitudes and favors a wider pKa range (19.5pKa) for the log KSV versus pKa correlation. Other key principles were to delimit the study to pure proton transfer and nonfluorescent acids, which allowed restricting the quenching response to a process dependent mainly on the acid-base equilibrium. All these findings open a new perspective as a proof of concept to design effective fluorescent pKa probes.

Conformation-related excited-state charge transfer/separation of donor-π-acceptor chromophores.

Understanding the excited-state charge transfer/separation (CT/CS) of donor-π-acceptor chromophores can provide guidance for designing and synthesizing advanced dyes to improve the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) in practical applications. Herein, two newly synthesized electronic push-pull molecules, CS-14 and CS-15, that consist of carbazole donor and benzothiadiazole acceptor segments are chosen to explore the ultrafast dynamics of intramolecular CT/CS processes. The theoretical calculation results depict an excited-state intramolecular CT character for both dyes, while the dihedral angle between donor and acceptor of CS-14 is larger than that of CS-15, suggesting a more significant CT character of CS-14. Furthermore, compared to CS-14, the bond rotation of CS-15 between donor and π-bridge is restricted by employing the hexatomic ring, indicating the stronger molecular planarization of CS-15. Ultrafast spectroscopy clearly shows a solvent polarity-dependent excited-state species evolution from CT to CS-the CT character is observed in low-polar toluene solvent, while the feature of the CS state in polar tetrahydrofuran and acetone solvents is captured, which successfully proved a solvent polarity modulated excited-state CT/CS characters. We also found that though the generation of the CS state within CS-14 is slightly faster than that of CS-15, the charge recombination process of CS-15 with excellent planar conformation is much slower, providing enough time for a higher charge migration efficiency in DSSCs.

Organic radical emitters: nature of doublet excitons in emissive layers.

Organic radical emitters have received significant attention as a new route to efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The electronic structure of radical emitters allows bypassing the triplet harvesting issue in current OLED devices. However, the nature of doublet excited states remains elusive due to the complex nature of emissive layers. To date, the computational efforts have treated radical carrying materials as isolated entities in the gas phase. However, OLED materials are applied as thin solid films where intermolecular interactions significantly impact optoelectronic properties of the devices. Here, we combine molecular dynamics simulations and quantum chemical calculations to evaluate the effect of emitter-host interactions on the performance of radical-based emissive layers. Results demonstrate that intermolecular interactions remarkably modulate the electronic properties of the radicals in the thin solid films. The doublet excitons of isolated emitters demonstrate a hybrid character of charge-transfer (CT) and local-excitation (LE), while the emitter-host clusters present a significant CT character. Further, the impact of static and dynamic disorders on the hole-electron recombination is studied. Although the host-emitter interactions simultaneously decrease radiative rates and increase non-radiative rates, the latter rates are 100 times smaller than the former rates, allowing internal quantum efficiency to reach 100% for the doublet-based emission process. The results of this study highlight the significant impact of host-emitter interactions on radiative and non-radiative recombination processes and offer guidelines to tune these interactions for advancing radical-based OLEDs.

The Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Weakly Coupled Diketopyrrolopyrroles.

Three centrosymmetric diketopyrrolopyrroles possessing either two 2-(2′-methoxyphenyl)benzothiazole or two 2-(2′-methoxyphenyl)benzoxazolo-thiophene scaffolds were synthesized in a straightforward manner, and their photophysical properties were investigated. Their emission was significantly bathochromically shifted as compared with that of simple DPPs reaching 650 nm. Judging from theoretical calculations performed with time-dependent density functional theory, in all three cases the excited state was localized on the DPP core and there was no significant CT character. Consequently, emission was almost independent of solvents’ polarity. DPPs possessing 2,5-thiophene units vicinal to DPP core play a role in electronic transitions, resulting in bathochromically shifted absorption and emission. Interestingly, as judged from transient absorption dynamics, intersystem crossing was responsible for the deactivation of the excited states of DPPs possessing para linkers but not in the case of dye bearing meta linker.

Experimental and theoretical electronic absorption spectra, optical, photoelectrical characterizations of 1, 2, 3-Thiazaphosphinine and 1, 2-Azaphospholes bearing a chromone ring: Solvatochromic effect and TD/DFT approach

Geometry, global energetic and dipole moment of the studied structures 1-4 in the ground state are calculated using the DFT/B3LYB/6-311++G (d,p) level of theory. It has been uncovered that compounds containing 1, 2, 3-thiazaphosphinine and 1, 2-azaphospholes bearing a Chromone ring structure displays noteworthy biological properties. The studied compounds 1-4 are non-planar, as indicated from the dihedral angles. Using frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis, various spectroscopic and quantum chemical parameters are evaluated. Besides, absorption energies, oscillator strength, and electronic transitions of 1, 2, 3-thiazaphosphinine and 1, 2-azaphospholes 1-4 molecules have been derived at TD-DFT/CAM-B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) computations utilizing a PCM and measured in different solvents polar and non-polar experimentally in Uv-Vis spectra. The second-order perturbation interactions between donor and acceptor MOs of the ground state and the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis show a localization and delocalization of electron density, intermolecular Charge Transfer CT character of n-π*, π-π* transitions. The calculated at the same level of theory which NLO, α, Δα and first order β were showed promising optical properties. For the understanding of reactivity points, the molecular electrostatic potential surfaces (MEPS) plots have been computed. All the calculations have been performed in the gas phase.

Exploring the possibility of using fluorine-involved non-conjugated electron-withdrawing groups for thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters by TD-DFT calculation.

The trifluoromethyl group has been previously explored as a non-conjugated electron-withdrawing group in donor–acceptor thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. In the present study, we investigate computationally the potential of other fluorine-containing acceptors, trifluoromethoxy (OCF3), trifluoromethylthio (SCF3), and pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5), within two families of donor–acceptor TADF emitters. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations indicate that when only two ortho-disposed carbazole donors are used (Type I molecules), the lowest-lying triplet state possesses locally excited (LE) character while the lowest-lying singlet state possesses charge-transfer character. When five carbazole donors are present in the emitter design (Type II molecules), now both S1 and T1 states possess CT character. For molecules 2CzOCF3 and 5CzOCF3, the singlet energies are predicted to be 3.92 eV and 3.45 eV; however, the singlet-triplet energy gaps, ΔESTs, are predicted to be large at 0.46 eV and 0.37 eV, respectively. The compounds 2CzCF3, 2CzSCF3, and 2CzSF5, from Type I molecules, show significant promise as deep blue TADF emitters, possessing high calculated singlet energies in the gas phase (3.62 eV, 3.66 eV, and 3.51 eV, respectively) and small, ΔESTs, of 0.17 eV, 0.22 eV, and 0.07 eV, respectively. For compounds 5CzSCF3 and 5CzSF5, from Type II molecules, the singlet energies are stabilized to 3.24 eV and 3.00 eV, respectively, while ΔESTs are 0.27 eV and 0.12 eV, respectively, thus both show promise as blue or sky-blue TADF emitters. All these six molecules possess a dense number of intermediate excited states between S1 and T1, thus likely leading to a very efficient reverse intersystem crossing in these compounds.

Responsive organoboranes with dynamic conformation of octacyclophane-type scaffolds: synthesis, AIE and temperature-dependent dual emissions

We have achieved three organoboron compounds that display unusually temperature-dependent dual emissions with long-lived CT character.

Luminescent properties of chameleon-like metal-organic framework between zinc(II) dichloride and two quinoline-N-oxide molecules.

Zinc compounds in the form of inorganic/organic hybrids containing both zinc halides and heterocyclic ligands show various interesting optical and physicochemical properties. Due to these properties, there is a potential for development of various innovative technologies and applications within the life sciences. In this study, experimental and theoretical results on the absorption and emission (steady state and time-resolved) properties of the hybrid ZnCl2(QO)2 complex formed between ZnCl2 and quinoline N-oxide, have been reported. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed the tetragonal cell (Z=4) with P41212 space group and a slight crystal distortion. Interestingly, experiments in aprotic solvents show that both absorption and emission spectra peak in the ultraviolet (UV) region suggesting a weak CT character of the emissive S1 state, confirmed by a middle Stokes shift values. The results of the nanosecond time-resolved emission spectroscopy suggest two different structures of the complex described by the two different lifetimes and variable amplitudes dependent on the polarity of the medium. In the solid state, a relatively strong, bright blue luminescence appears at 413nm (τ=2.26ns). Theoretical calculations (DFT and TD DFT) confirm experimental studies and reveal the solvent-dependent chameleon properties of ZnCl2(QO)2 by two different structures in two solvents of a contrast polarity. In apolar cyclohexane (CHX, μ=5.612 D), the planes of both lateral quinoline N-oxide (QO) rings show to be nearly parallel each to another, resembling the crystal structure, while in a strongly polar acetonitrile (AN, μ=9.328 D) they are nearly perpendicular. Such parallel arrangement of quinoline rings of ZnCl2(QO)2 complex in weakly polar methylcyclohexane can hinder the process of Photoinduced Electron Transfer, resulting in a stronger emission and significant quantum yield in comparison to more polar media.

Elucidating the Electronic Structure of High-Spin [MnIII(TPP)Cl] Using Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy.

Manganese porphyrins are used as catalysts in the oxidation of olefins and nonactivated hydrocarbons. Key to these reactions are high-valent Mn-(di)oxo species, for which [Mn(Porph)(X)] serve as precursors. To elucidate their properties, it is crucial to understand the interaction of the Mn center with the porphyrin ligand. Our study focuses on simple high-spin [MnIII(TPP)X] (X = F, Cl, I, Br) complexes with emphasis on the spectroscopic properties of [MnIII(TPP)Cl], using variable-temperature variable-field magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy and time-dependent density functional theory to help with band assignments. The optical properties of [MnIII(TPP)Cl] are complicated and unusual, with a Soret band showing a high-intensity feature at 21050 cm-1 and a broad band that spans 23200-31700 cm-1. The 15000-18500 cm-1 region shows the Cl(px/y) → dπ (CT(Cl,π)), Q band, and overlap-forbidden Cl(px/y)_dπ → dx2-y2 transitions that gain intensity from the strongly allowed π → π*(0) transition. The 20000-21000 cm-1 region displays the prominent pseudo A-type signal of the Soret band. The strongly absorbing features at 22500-28000 cm-1 exhibit A1u⟨79⟩/A2u⟨81⟩ → dπ, CT(Cl,π/σ), and symmetry-forbidden CT character, mixed with the π → π*(0) transition. The strong dx2-y2_B1g⟨80⟩ orbital interaction drives the ground-state MO mixing. Importantly, the splitting of the Soret band is explained by strong mixing of the porphyrin A2u(π)⟨81⟩ and the Cl(pz)_dz2 orbitals. Through this direct orbital pathway, the π → π*(0) transition acquires intrinsic metal-d → porphyrin CT character, where the π → π*(0) intensity is then transferred into the high-energy CT region of the optical spectrum. The heavier halide complexes support this conclusion and show enhanced orbital mixing and drastically increased Soret band splittings, where the 21050 cm-1 band shifts to lower energy and the high-energy features in the 23200-31700 cm-1 range increase further in intensity, compared to the chloro complex.

Structure determination and negative differential resistance of tetraarylporphyrin/polyoxometalate 2 : 1 complexes

The tetraarylporphyrin/POM complexes with CT character show negative differential resistance because of the memristor-like behavior.

Characterization of Charge Transfer in Excited States of Extended Clusters of π-Stacked Donor and Acceptor Complexes in Lock-Arm Supramolecular Ordering.

Lock-arm supramolecular ordering cocrystals formed by π-stacked materials constitute an interesting class of materials, which exhibits ferroelectric behavior at room temperature. To characterize the charge transfer in excited states, two complexes with π-stacked donors and acceptors, the 1,5-naphthalene diol (NDI) donor and pyromellitic diimide with diethylene glycol arms (PDIA) acceptor, 5-amino-1-naphthol (AMN) donor and PDIA acceptor, were investigated. The electronic excitations were calculated using the scaled opposite-spin variant of ADC(2), time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) using a long-range corrected (LC) functional (ωB97xD), and the TD-LC approach within density-functional-based tight binding (TD-LC-DFTB). Face-to-face mixed stacks and edge-to-face crossed stacks up to hexamers were investigated. The calculations show that the ground state of the complexes does not possess significant CT character. On the other hand, the lowest excited state (S1) shows in all clusters a strong charge transfer. In several cases, the second excited state and also higher excited singlet states possess significant CT character. The orbitals involved in the excitation are mostly well localized and located on adjacent donor/acceptor pairs. Comparing different stacking directions, the vertical excitation energies for the NDI-PDIA crossed stacks are larger than those for the mixed stacks by 0.2-0.4 eV. In the case of the AMN-PDIA system, the energy differences are smaller (∼0.1 eV) with mostly the same energetic ordering as for the NDI-PDIA case. Strong red shifts in vertical fluorescence emission transitions have been computed, which could even lead to intersection between ground and first excited states, resulting in ultrafast radiationless decay and fluorescence quenching.

Investigation of photophysical properties of triphenylamine phenylethenyl derivatives containing tertiary amine groups

Triphenylamine (TPA) compounds are versatile charge transport materials, demonstrating high emission efficiency and interesting interactions in solid state. Their spectroscopic emission parameters highly depend on surrounding medium owning to strong CT character in solution. Although TPA compounds demonstrate good charge transport capabilities, further optimization via molecular design is required. In this work, various TPA molecular systems with varying number of additional dimethylamine (dMA) and phenylethenyl (PE) substituents were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, influence of quaternarization of tertiary amine groups in the triphenylamine backbone on emission and electronic properties was analyzed. TPA-dMA compounds demonstrated aggregation induced emission enhancement with high emission efficiency and excellent (μh = 4.7·10−3 cm2V−1s−1) charge transport in the solid state. Quaternarization of tertiary amine groups in the triphenylamine backbone has led to emission and electronic properties in the wide 400–700 nm spectral region.

Excited-State Switching between Ligand-Centered and Charge Transfer Modulated by Metal-Carbon Bonds in Cyclopentadienyl Iridium Complexes.

Three series of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) Ir(III) complexes with different bidentate ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized, [Cp*Ir(tpy)L] n+ (tpy = 2-tolylpyridinato; n = 0 or 1), [Cp*Ir(piq)L] n+ (piq = 1-phenylisoquinolinato; n = 0 or 1), and [Cp*Ir(bpy)L] m+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; m = 1 or 2), featuring a range of monodentate carbon-donor ligands within each series [L = 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide; 3,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (NHC); methyl)]. The spectroscopic and photophysical properties of these molecules and those of the photocatalyst [Cp*Ir(bpy)H]+ were examined to establish electronic structure-photophysical property relationships that engender productive photochemical reactivity of this hydride and its methyl analogue. The Ir(III) chromophores containing ancillary CNAr ligands exhibited features anticipated for predominantly ligand-centered (LC) excited states, and analogues bearing the NHC ancillary exhibited properties consistent with LC excited states containing a small admixture of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character. However, the molecules featuring anionic and strongly σ-donating methyl or hydride ligands exhibited photophysical properties consistent with a high degree of CT character. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the lowest energy triplet states in these complexes are composed of a mixture of MLCT and ligand-to-ligand CT originating from both the Cp* and methyl or hydride ancillary ligands. The high degree of CT character in the triplet excited states of methyliridium complexes bearing C^N-cyclometalated ligands offer a striking contrast to the photophysical properties of pseudo-octahedral structures fac-Ir(C^N)3 or Ir(C^N)2(acac) that have lowest-energy triplet excited states characterized as primarily LC character with a more moderate MLCT admixture.

Design of Luminescent Isocyano Rhenium(I) Complexes: Photophysics and Effects of the Ancillary Ligands.

Despite the well-reported MLCT [dπ(M) → π*(CNR)] transitions in the isocyano transition metal complexes, emissive complexes with phosphorescence derived from MLCT [dπ(M) → π*(CNR)] were not extensively studied. To provide insights into the design strategy of phosphorescent rhenium(I) complexes with an emissive 3MLCT [dπ(Re) → π*(CNR)] excited state, a series of pentaisocyano rhenium(I) complexes have been synthesized. In contrast to most of the reported penta- or hexaisocyano rhenium(I) complexes with unsubstituted or alkyl- or monohalo-substituted phenylisocyanide ligands, which only exhibit photoluminescence in 77 K glassy medium, the solutions of all of these complexes were found to show phosphorescence at room temperature. Detailed study on their emission properties revealed that they are derived from the 3MLCT [dπ(Re) → π*(CNR)] excited state mixed with LL'CT character. It has been shown that the strong electron-withdrawing substituents on the isocyanide ligands can lower the energy of the MLCT [dπ(Re) → π*(CNR)] state and raise the deactivating ligand-field state. These effects are the crucial criteria to render the pentaisocyano rhenium(I) complexes emissive. Moreover, the emission properties in terms of energy, lifetime, and quantum yields can also be enhanced by the ancillary ligand.

Accurate Description of Low-Lying Excited States in a Series of Photoreactive Clusters [Os3(CO)10(α-diimine)] by DFT Calculations

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed on clusters [Os3(CO)10(α-diimine)], for α-diimine = 2,2'-bipyridine (BPY), N-isopropyl 2-iminomethylpyridine (IMP), and N, N'-diisopropyl-l,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (DAB), together with their spectroscopic study. This important family of clusters is known to convert upon irradiation with visible light into short-lived biradicals and long-lived zwitterions from a σπ* (SBLCT) excited state that has not been described accurately thus far by quantum mechanical calculations. On the basis of the combined DFT, UV-vis absorption, and resonance Raman data, the lowest-lying visible absorption band is assigned to a σ(Os1-Os3)-to-π*(α-diimine) CT transition, for α-diimine = bpy and IMP, and to a strongly delocalized σ(Os1-Os3)π*-to-σ*(Os1-Os3)π* transition for conjugated nonaromatic α-diimine = DAB. The DFT calculations rationalize the experimentally determined characteristics of this electronic transition in the studied series: (i) The corresponding absorption band is the dominant feature in the visible spectral region. (ii) The CT character of the electronic excitation declines from α-diimine = bpy to IMP and vanishes for DAB. (iii) The excitation energies decrease in the order α-diimine = DAB > BPY > IMP. (iv) The oscillator strength shrinks in the order α-diimine = DAB > IMP > BPY. Reference photoreaction quantum yields measured accurately for the formation of a cluster zwitterion from [Os3(CO)10(IMP)] in strongly coordinating pyridine demonstrate that the optical population of the lowest-energy 1σπ* and relaxed 3σπ* excited states in the DFT model scheme is still capable of inducing the initial homolytic Os1-Os3 σ-bond splitting, although less efficiently than the optical excitation into neighbor higher-lying electronic transitions due to a higher potential barrier for the reaction from a dissociative (σσ*) state.

Structure-fluorescence relationships in 2-aryl-5-(2′-aminophenyl)-4-hydroxy-1,3-thiazoles

Five substituted 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-5-(2′-aminophenyl)-1,3-thiazoles have been studied for their fluorescence properties under neutral and alkaline conditions in solutions of various organic solvents. From comparison with the analogous 2-aryl-4-hydroxy-5-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-thiazoles it is clear that both in neutral as well as in the deprotonated state the presence of the 2′-amino group lowers the fluorescence quantum yields (Φ). Introduction of an electron withdrawing groups into the 2-aryl group further decreases Φ. Upon deprotonation of the 4-hydroxy group a large bathochromic shift of the absorption (ΔλA = 100–125 nm) as well as emission (ΔλF = 100–120 nm) bands occurs. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the amino and hydroxyl groups is obvious. The first absorption band of all studied compounds corresponds to a π-π* HOMO-LUMO transition with a CT character. Thiazoles 3b-f and their deprotonated forms 3b–-f– display fluorescence properties with large Stokes shift (ca 9000 cm−1 and 6000 cm−1, respectively) and moderate quantum yields (0.11–0.41), both are connected with the presence of inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonds.